Ignition module for internal combustion engine with integrated communication device

• US 10,634,111 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Bykowski, Jonathan T., Kleczewski, Michael R., Patrawala, Pezaan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jin, George C
• Application Number:
  US15/829,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20180163689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/021 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/70 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/04 Introducing corrections for particular operating conditions F02D41/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/067 with control of the choke non electronic control of choke see F02M1/10
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 19/02 Metering-orifices, e.g. variable in diameter variable during operation F02M7/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/302 using data communication
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/304 with other systems inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 1/086 for generating sparks by discharging a capacitor into a coil circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/04 Preventing unauthorised use of engines of vehicles B60R25/04; ignition locks H01H27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 15/006 Ignition installations combined with other systems, e.g. fuel injection to advance or to retard the ignition spark F02P5/045
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/00 Testing of ignition installations, e.g. in combination with adjusting testing fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00; testing ignition installations in general F23Q23/00; Testing of ignition timing in compression-ignition engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 3/00 Other installations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An electronic device for the ignition system of an engine, which may incorporate circuitry for voltage amplification via transformer action, while also containing circuitry for sensing operational parameters, circuitry for calculation of derived values from the sensed data or operational parameters, circuitry for storage of the data and derived values, circuitry for engine system control, and circuitry for the wireless communication of data and derived values.

Claims

1. An integrated ignition module for an internal combustion engine, the module comprising:

a housing configured for attachment to a chassis;

an ignition circuit disposed in the housing;

a programmable controller disposed in the housing; and

a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing, the transceiver operably and communicably coupled to the controller to wirelessly exchange data between the controller and an external electronic device;

wherein the ignition circuit is controlled by the controller and includes an ignition coil disposed in the housing; and

wherein the ignition circuit further includes a charging coil and an energy storage device.

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is oriented out of phase with electromagnetic radiation generated by the ignition coil.

3. The module according to claim 1, further comprising at least one air temperature sensor operable to sense and transmit a temperature of ambient combustion air and at least one engine temperature sensor operable to sense and transmit an operating temperature of the engine, the controller configured to detect the transmitted temperatures.

4. The module according to claim 3, further comprising an engine speed sensor operable to sense and transmit a measured speed of the engine to the controller.

5. The module according to claim 4, wherein the controller is operably coupled to an actuator associated with a choke valve that controls a flow of ambient combustion air to the engine, the controller configured to adjust a position of the choke valve based on the transmitted temperatures and speed of the engine.

6. The module according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is a stepper motor.

7. The module according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured via program instructions to collect and analyze engine operational data obtained via a plurality of sensors and perform basic analytics to generate derived engine data.

8. The module according to claim 7, wherein the external electronic device is configured via program instructions to perform more in-depth analytics on the derived engine data received from the controller via the transceiver.

9. The module according to claim 8, wherein the external electronic device sends control instructions to controller via the transceiver based on the more in-depth analytics to alter operation of the engine.

10. The module according to claim 1, further comprising an auto-choke system disposed in the housing.

11. The module according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the transceiver including transmission and reception of data to and from the external electronics device.

12. An integrated ignition module for an internal combustion engine, the module comprising:

a housing configured for attachment to a chassis;

an ignition circuit disposed in the housing;

a programmable controller disposed in the housing; and

a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing, the transceiver operably and communicably coupled to the controller to wirelessly exchange data between the controller and an external electronic device;

wherein the ignition circuit is controlled by the controller and includes an ignition coil disposed in the housing; and

wherein the transceiver is oriented out of phase with electromagnetic radiation generated by the ignition coil.